Numismatic

1889-S Morgan Dollar MS-65 NGC

---

In 1889, the San Francisco Mint struck a limited run of just 700,000 silver dollars, a production tied directly to the legislative mandates of the 1878 Bland-Allison Act. This particular specimen survives today in an exceptional state of preservation, certified as Mint State 65. It represents a fascinating moment in American history when the expansion of the Western economy demanded a steady flow of silver coinage. Designed by George T. Morgan, the coin features a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty on the obverse. She wears a Phrygian cap adorned with native American agricultural elements, specifically wheat and cotton, with the word LIBERTY visible on her hairband. The year 1889 is inscribed below the portrait. On the reverse, a majestic eagle holds an olive branch and arrows in its talons, symbolizing both peace and defense. The 'S' mint mark, indicating its origin at the San Francisco facility, is positioned below the wreath. Each of these historic coins was minted with a diameter of 38.1 mm and a thickness of 3.1 mm. Struck from 0.900 fine silver, the coin contains 0.7734 troy ounces of precious metal. Exploring the details of this beautifully preserved dollar offers a direct window into the late nineteenth-century American West and the artistry of the era's coinage.